Founded by Orangemen who settled in the vicinity of the Denys Basin of Cape Breton Island's Bras d'Or Lake, Orangedale was a small farming and fishing community until 1886 when the Intercolonial Railway of Canada mainline from Sydney to Point Tupper was constructed. Orangedale became host to a Victorian-period 2-storey wooden railway passenger station and became the preferred stop for many passeng
ers heading to and from northern Cape Breton Island. Orangedale, Nova Scotia is located in Nova Scotia
Orangedale in Nova Scotia
The community developed into a small railway service centre, with the majority of its residents being employed by the railway. The ICR was absorbed into the Canadian National Railways in 1918 and in 1993, CN sold the line to Sydney to the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway. Passenger rail service stopped following the January 15, 1990 budget cuts by VIA Rail Canada. In 1988 a group of community volunteers formed to save the original ICR station from being demolished. The Rankin Family's record hit Orangedale Whistle pays homage to the community's role in Cape Breton Island's transportation history.
